A-W Titans host defending Class 2A champions Mercer County

Thursday

Oct 24, 2013 at 7:52 PM

For the Annawan-Wethersfield Titans and the Mercer County Golden Eagles, the playoffs start a week early.

Rocky Stuffelbeam

For the Annawan-Wethersfield Titans and the Mercer County Golden Eagles, the playoffs start a week early.Entering the final week of the regular season, the Titans are 7-1 and the Golden Eagles are 8-0. They face off at 7 Friday night at Wethersfield Memorial Stadium.A Mercer County win makes it the outright champion of the Lincoln Trail Conference. An A-W win would mean a three-way tie for the title (assuming Stark County gets past Monmouth United) as all three teams would wind up 8-1 and all would have one win in their own personal three-team round robin.“A share of the title would be huge for the program,” A-W Coach Brandon Johnston said at midweek.Johnston knows a win would mean more to the Titans than just a piece of the LTC trophy.An 8-1 finish probably means a home game in next week’s opening round of the IHSA playoffs. A 7-2 mark would make a home game something of a coin flip.“We’ve told the kids there’s a lot on the line Friday night,” Johnston said. “There’s the conference title, a home game to start the playoffs and, of course, a better seed in the playoffs.”The headline match-up in tonight’s game is Mercer County’s defense versus A-W’s offense.The Golden Eagles have given up just 44 points in their first eight games (22 of them in last Friday’s win over River Valley).The Mercer County defense has pitched five shutouts this season. The other nine teams in the conference have combined to produce just three.On the other side of the line, the A-W offense has been hitting on all cylinders in recent weeks.In fact, the Titans have scored 41, 41 and 41 in the last three weeks, a feat both noteworthy and unusual. In the game prior to starting the string of 41s, the Titans scored 40.Running back Micam Smith has been a large part of A-W’s offensive surge. He’s rushed for 200 yards in three straight games.“He’s obviously played well,” Johnston said. “But a big part of it is the guys up front also have been getting the job done.”Johnston said his Titans will have to be sharp on offense against the Golden Eagles.“We have to be able to move the ball,” Johnston said. “Their defense has been a strong point over the last couple of years, but it will be important for us to keep the ball away from their offense.“We’ve gotten to the point where we’re happy with where we’re at, but we know we have to take another big step this week. And I think one of the biggest things will be playing mistake-free. We can’t give them extra possessions.”Johnston named his starters for Friday's showdown.Jake Bennett will be the quarterback. He’ll be joined in the backfield by tailback Micam Smith and fullback Gunner Ince.The line will include tackles Ben Foster and Tucker Nichols, guards Jordan Morey and Andrew Draminski, and center Blake Vincent.The tight end will be Eric Bryan with Tanner Nichols and Trevor Lay starting at wide receiver.The defensive line will feature Draminski and Vincent at the end spots and Carter Pillen and Foster at tackles.The linebackers will be Brett Meier, Ince and Morey.The secondary will be made up of corners Bryan and Lay, and safeties Bo VanOpdorp and Smith.